"Miracle on Hudson" plane to be exhibited in museum

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Reuters) - The crippled U.S. Airways plane that made a miraculous safe emergency landing in New York's icy Hudson River in 2009 is headed for its final destination -- the Carolinas Aviation Museum.

The museum in Charlotte, North Carolina is close to finalizing a deal to obtain the Airbus A320 as a permanent exhibit, museum president Shawn Dorsch said on Wednesday.

"This is without a doubt a major international aviation icon," Dorsch said. "People around the world are captivated by this story."

All 155 people survived the emergency landing on January 15, 2009 after the plane was struck by birds, blowing out its engines, moments after take-off from New York's LaGuardia airport.

Pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger became an American hero for his skillful guiding of the Charlotte-bound plane and his grace under the public spotlight. The incident won the nickname "Miracle on the Hudson."

The plane will be shipped in May to North Carolina from New Jersey, where it has been stored.

Dorsch said she expects it will take several months to reassemble the aircraft for public display in Charlotte, which is the hub for US Airways.

The final exhibit will include the uniform worn on the flight by Sullenberger, who has since retired.